How to Watch the 2026 BET Awards in Canada (Free Options Included)

QUICK ANSWER: The BET Awards air live on BET in the US on Sunday, June 28, 2026, and BET isn’t available in Canada anymore, so you’ll need a VPN to watch. Connect to a US server with VPN, then stream the show on a US live TV service that carries BET. The cheapest route is Philo at $25/month with a 7-day free trial, so if you sign up with a US server connected and cancel inside the window, you can watch the whole thing for free. NordVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee covers the VPN side with no risk.

Culture’s Biggest Night is back. The 2026 BET Awards broadcast live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 28, hosted by Druski, the youngest host the show has ever had. The performer list is stacked: Cardi B, Doechii, Nas, Kehlani, Common, Don Toliver, Queen Latifah, Rick Ross, Tems, T.I., Jill Scott, Ari Lennox, Baby Keem, The War and Treaty, and more. Teyana Taylor takes the Icon of the Year Award, Ms. Lauryn Hill receives the inaugural Living Legend Icon Award, and music executive Sylvia Rhone gets the Ultimate Icon Award.

Here’s the catch: BET shut down in Canada. Bell dropped the BET channel, no Canadian cable provider carries it anymore, and the BET+ app is gone too. BET+ was discontinued in June 2026 and its library was folded into Paramount+, but Paramount+ does not carry the live BET channel or the BET Awards. So even if you have Paramount+ in Canada, you still can’t watch the show live on it.

The good news is the block is based on your location, not your account. The awards stream live on US services that carry BET, and a VPN makes your device look like it’s in the US. Pair that with a free trial and you can watch at no cost.

This guide covers the free route, the paid options, the exact prices, the devices that work, and one honest hurdle to plan for if you’re paying from a Canadian card.

Key Takeaways

• The 2026 BET Awards air live Sunday, June 28 at 8 p.m. ET on BET in the US, hosted by Druski.
• BET is no longer available in Canada on cable or streaming, and Paramount+ Canada does not carry the live BET Awards.
• A VPN with a US server unblocks US streaming services that carry BET. In our testing from Toronto, NordVPN connected to a New York server in under a minute.
• The cheapest way to watch is Philo at $25/month (USD) with a 7-day free trial, which makes the show effectively free if you cancel in time.
• Most US live TV services need a US payment method to sign up, so plan for that before showtime.
• Free VPNs are blocked by these services and aren’t a reliable option, so use a paid VPN’s money-back guarantee instead.

Quick Steps to Watch 2026 BET Awards in Canada:

1. Get a reliable VPN and download it on your preferred streaming device. I recommend NordVPN because its US servers consistently get past streaming blocks.
2. Connect to a US server (New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles all work well).
3. Sign up for a US service that carries BET. Philo is the cheapest and has a 7-day free trial and start streaming at 8 p.m. ET on June 28.

When the BET Awards Start in Canada

The show goes live at 8 p.m. ET. Here’s when that lands across Canadian time zones if you’re streaming the live East Coast feed:

Sign in a few minutes early. The opening performance usually hits before any of the awards, and you don’t want to miss it.

How to Watch the BET Awards in Canada

Since BET isn’t sold in Canada at all, the route is the same for everyone: a VPN to put you on a US IP, plus a US live TV service that carries BET. Here are the services that carry the channel, with current US pricing and trial details.

Prices are in USD and were checked in June 2026. They change often, so confirm the current rate on each service’s official page before you sign up.

The free play: Philo’s 7-day free trial is the genuine no-cost route. Connect your VPN to a US server first, sign up, watch the awards on June 28, and cancel before day 7 if you don’t want to keep it. You get the full show for $0.

NOTE: Once you have a login for any of these services, you can also watch through the BET app itself. Open the BET app, choose “sign in with TV provider,” and pick your streaming service. Philo, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and DirecTV all support BET app sign-in.

The One Hurdle: US Payment Methods

Here’s the honest part. Most of these US services ask for a US payment method at signup, since they’re meant for US customers. A Canadian credit card sometimes works and sometimes gets declined, depending on the service and the day.

Two workarounds people use: a US-issued prepaid Visa or Mastercard gift card, or PayPal set to a US billing address. Neither is guaranteed, so test your payment method a day or two before the show rather than five minutes before it starts. Philo is generally the most forgiving on signup, which is another reason it’s our top pick for this event.

This is informational, not legal or financial advice. Using a VPN to access a US service may go against that service’s terms, but it isn’t illegal in Canada. The worst case is a declined card or a blocked stream, not a fine.

Best VPNs for Streaming the BET Awards in Canada

You need a VPN that reliably beats US streaming blocks and has fast enough servers for a live broadcast. These three are our picks, in order.

1. NordVPN (top pick)

NordVPN is the one we reach for first. It has the largest server network of the three, the fastest speeds in our testing, and its US servers get past streaming blocks more consistently than anything else we’ve used. In our testing from Toronto, a New York server loaded a US live TV service in under a minute. Pricing starts around $3.09 to $3.49/month on a two-year plan, and the 30-day money-back guarantee means you can use it for the awards and refund it after if you only needed it for one night. Confirm the current rate at checkout.

2. Surfshark (best value)

Surfshark is the budget choice. It still unblocks the major US streamers, and the standout feature is unlimited devices on one subscription, so you can cover your phone, laptop, and TV without counting slots. Long-term plans start around $2.49/month, with the same 30-day money-back guarantee. Good pick if you want to spend as little as possible.

3. ExpressVPN (the all-rounder)

ExpressVPN is the dependable option, especially if you’re watching on a streaming box. Its Fire TV and Apple TV apps are the cleanest of the three, so setup on a TV is close to set-and-forget. Speeds are consistent and the US servers are reliable. Two-year pricing runs around $2.49 to $3.49/month with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

A Warning About Free VPNs

It’s tempting to grab a free VPN for one night. Don’t. Here’s why they won’t get you to the BET Awards:

1. Blocked IPs. Free VPN servers are heavily flagged, so US streaming services block them on sight. You’ll hit the same error you were trying to escape.
2. Speed throttling. Free tiers throttle your bandwidth, which turns a live HD broadcast into a buffering slideshow right when the performances start.
3. Privacy risks. Many free VPNs log and sell your data, and some carry malware.

The smarter “free” move is a paid VPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee. You get full speed and reliable unblocking now, and a full refund if you cancel inside the window. Same zero cost, none of the headaches.

FAQs

Can I watch the BET Awards for free in Canada?
Yes. Philo offers a 7-day free trial that includes BET, so if you sign up with a US server connected and cancel before the trial ends, you can watch the awards at no cost. Pair it with a VPN on a money-back guarantee and the whole setup can be free.

Does Paramount+ in Canada carry the BET Awards?
No. BET+ programming moved to Paramount+ in June 2026, but that’s the on-demand library only. Paramount+ does not carry the live BET channel or the live BET Awards broadcast.

Is there Canadian streaming or cable TV service that offers the BET channel? No as of now there is not a single Canadian streaming or cable TV service that offers BET channel. Though you can watch BET programming on Paramount+ Canada, you need a VPN to watch 2026 BET awards.